Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Under the 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, the Government of Israel committed to the full entry of aid without interference. It is unacceptable that over the last 6 weeks, volumes entering Gaza are only 35 per cent of the minimum targets agreed in the Plan.

This is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and risks undermining the Peace Plan. More crossings and aid corridors must therefore be reopened, and restrictions on humanitarian partners and supplies must be lifted. We will continue to raise these issues directly with the Government of Israel.

The UK opposes capital punishment in all circumstances, and we have raised our concerns directly with the Israeli Government about the recently-passed Death Penalty Bill.

In a joint statement with Australia, France, Germany, Italy and New Zealand on 29 March, we highlighted the discriminatory character of the bill, and urged the Government of Israel to abandon it.

And on 30 March, the Foreign Secretary raised the bill in a call with Foreign Minister Sa’ar, and highlighted Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.

The UK remains committed to eradicating polio.

We will continue to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative directly until December 2026.

Then we will support polio eradication through our £248 million of fully flexible core funding to the World Health Organisation between 2025 and 2028.

Alongside this our £1.25 billion investment in Gavi between 2026 and 2030 will deliver routine immunisation to up to 500 million children including against polio.

The UK electoral system is highly resilient, and to date, we have not seen evidence of successful Russian interference in UK democratic processes. But we know that the Kremlin seeks to sow discord in the West and undermine our institutions. Working closely with our NATO and G7 allies, we will continue to unmask Russia’s deceptive agencies, sanction their leaders, and impede their operations.

We continue to monitor the situation and have robust measures in place to counter any attempts at political interference.

Baroness Chapman received basic language training in Spanish, to assist with her ministerial engagements in Latin America.

Our long‑term national interest requires a closer EU partnership, anchored in the Common Understanding and strengthened by new security and defence cooperation.

Our Security and Defence Partnership has delivered a step change in engagement, supporting Ukraine through coordinated sanctions, military assistance, training, and resilience.

While providing a long‑term framework for practical cooperation that protects our citizens and strengthens Europe’s collective defence.

This sits alongside wider progress, including Erasmus+ and negotiations on energy, youth experience, and food and drink.

We remain deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Somalia, including the devastating conflict-related violence against women and children, and deteriorating media freedom.

The UK advocates for greater respect for human rights through targeted programmes and sustained engagement, holding the Federal Government of Somalia and other actors to account.

As co-chair of a Somalia-focused Human Rights Working Group, and joint penholder for the United Nations Human Rights Council mandate, the UK plays a leading role in keeping international partners’ attention and efforts focused on human rights issues in Somalia.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works with the UK Health Security Agency, World Health Organization (WHO), and other international partners to monitor a broad range of global health threats through established international surveillance systems. We support global disease surveillance networks, early‑warning systems and programmes that strengthen countries' capacity to prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks, including through our multilateral investments to WHO, the Global Fund, Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 6 August 2025 to Question 68009.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to media freedom in Africa and around the world, and recognise the vital role that journalists play in upholding human rights, supporting accountable governance, and protecting democracy. We have already taken significant steps to protect and promote media freedom globally, including increasing our funding for the BBC World Service by an additional £33 million over the next three years, taking our annual contribution to £148 million. We will continue to work with African partners to support and protect independent media and media freedom in their countries, with funding decisions kept under regular review.

The British Council plays a crucial role supporting the UK's interests around the world, supported by its work on UK education, as well as its work to promote UK arts and culture, and the English language, including a love of the works of Shakespeare. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is providing a non-Official Development Assistance uplift of £40 million across the Spending Review period to the British Council, which underlines our continued support for their important work.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 30 March in response to Question 118788, and to the previous answer to which his questions refer.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 30 March in response to Question 118788, and to the previous answer to which his questions refer.

The Hon Member is misinformed. The Asia-Pacific Group of states agreed within their group to put forward Iran, India, Japan and Pakistan as candidates for the four available regional seats on the committee in question. As per normal practice, those regional nominations went forward without a vote, with no expression of support from the UK.

The UK continues to monitor the evolving situation between Ethiopia and Sudan closely. Any further escalation would risk destabilising the region and carries a high risk of human rights abuses and atrocities. The Foreign Secretary discussed the conflict with the Ethiopian Prime Minister during her visit to Addis Ababa in February, and the Minister of State for International Development and Africa reiterated these messages in a call with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on 25 March.

During the Foreign Secretary's statement to the United Nations Security Council on 19 February, she made clear that "We urgently need an end to arms flows. Reports into breaches of the UN arms embargo, which we agree should be extended and enforced, must be investigated." We continue to emphasise to all parties the importance of refraining from actions that prolong the conflict and urge those with influence over the warring parties to bring them to the negotiating table to seek a political resolution.

We also expect all countries to comply with their obligations under United Nations sanctions regimes, including upholding the UN Arms Embargo on Darfur, and will continue to work closely with Security Council partners and the UN Panel of Experts to support effective monitoring and enforcement.

The UK continues to raise Jimmy Lai's case with the Chinese Government at every opportunity, alongside a number of international partners, calling both for his release, and for the protection of his health and wellbeing while he remains in detention. I will keep Hon Members updated on progress resulting from these efforts.

It is standard practice to consider the particular needs of marginalised groups, including older people, when planning our humanitarian responses, and this will be reflected in our ongoing discussions with international partners and non-governmental organisations on the crisis in Sudan.

No change has been made to the approach to such grants since they were first made under the previous government of which the Hon Member was part.

I refer the Hon Member to the comments made by the Foreign Secretary in her article for the Daily Telegraph on 15 April marking the third anniversary of the war in Sudan, where she said:

Amid all this horror, another Sudan endures, defined not by violence, but by courage. Across the country, civilians continue to step forward where the state has collapsed, working to keep their communities alive.

Local emergency responders travel neighbourhood by neighbourhood, providing food, water and medicine in conditions of danger and deprivation that few could imagine. They are unpaid, unaligned, and often targeted by the warring parties precisely because of the alternative model of life they represent.

They are not simply delivering aid. They are preserving the social fabric of their country and showing that Sudan's future does not belong to armed men battling for power, but to citizens committed to dignity and coexistence. They must be recognised as the rightful architects of Sudan's future.

That is why we are protecting the UK's humanitarian support to Sudan and doubling our funding to these local responders, helping them to reach nearly two million people. Our aid will support that local leadership, not overshadow it. That is not only more effective; it is how a peaceful Sudan will be rebuilt.

We are determined to disrupt the small boats gangs and work with international partners more closely to take Organised Immigration Crime (OIC), and this is why the Foreign Secretary convened leading Foreign Ministers to discuss this at the Munich Security Conference in February.

In the 18 months to 31 January 2026, 58,539 foreign nationals were returned;

Last year, 3625 disruptions of OIC were recorded, up to 37% on the previous year.

With new agreements including with Ethiopia and Angola we are determined to remove those who have no right to be here further undermining the business model of people smuggling gangs.

Last week, at the International Sudan Conference in Berlin, the Foreign Secretary announced £146 million of new humanitarian funding for Sudan this year, which will reach more than 1.8 million people.

This includes doubling UK support for local Sudanese responders delivering vital aid in the hardest-to-reach areas.

But funding alone cannot stop this man-made crisis. That is why, at the same conference, the Foreign Secretary also urged the renewal of diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire, allow urgent, safe and unrestricted access for humanitarian relief agencies, and negotiate a lasting resolution to the conflict in Sudan.

NATO is the cornerstone of UK and Euro-Atlantic security, and we work continually with our partners throughout the alliance to help protect our safety and prosperity here at home.

Together with our European Allies, we are increasing investment in our armed forces and shouldering more of the burden for NATO’s defence, and working closely with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on preparations for a successful Ankara Summit in July.

NATO also remains steadfast in our military, political and humanitarian support for Ukraine, as we continue to stand together against Russia’s illegal and brutal war against the Ukrainian people.

In response to the first question, I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 10 April in response to Question 123071, and on 28 January in response to Question 106997. In response to the second question, the UK and wider G7 countries have committed to ensuring that Russian sovereign assets remain immobilised across our jurisdictions until Russia ceases its war of aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. We will continue to work with international partners to ensure Ukraine gets the support it needs.

The UK voted for the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and supports its principles, including respect for the rights, autonomy and protection of all indigenous people - including those living in voluntary isolation.

The UK raises the rights of indigenous people through ongoing diplomatic engagement and works bilaterally and through multilateral institutions to encourage states to meet their international human rights commitments, including in countries where uncontacted indigenous people are present.

The UK voted for the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and supports its principles, including respect for the rights, autonomy and protection of all indigenous people - including those living in voluntary isolation.

The UK raises the rights of indigenous people through ongoing diplomatic engagement and works bilaterally and through multilateral institutions to encourage states to meet their international human rights commitments, including in countries where uncontacted indigenous people are present.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps its travel advice under constant review, and last updated its advice for Hong Kong on 1 April to reflect its assessment of the situation on the ground.

The UK is concerned about recent restrictions on access to holy sites in Jerusalem. Israel must work with religious communities to facilitate access in line with the status quo, and the right to worship must be protected.

No such assessment is required, but the Hon Member can find the UK's Explanation of Vote at the following link on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-explanation-of-vote-on-the-declaration-of-the-trafficking-of-enslaved-africans-and-racialised-chattel-enslavement-of-africans-as-the-gravest-crime.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer he received on 5 March in response to Question 114767.

For over ten years, Inter Mediate and the UK Government have successfully partnered to advance peace efforts around the globe. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) supports a range of civil society and non-governmental organisations through its mediation and conflict resolution programme. Given the sensitive and discreet nature of these efforts, we do not disclose details of the projects supported. This ensures that neither the safety of partners, nor the integrity of ongoing peace efforts are compromised. This is in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the FCDO's approach to aid transparency, whereby information is excluded from publication where sharing could pose risks to international relations, compromise the security and safety of partners, prejudice national security, or reveal personal data that could infringe on privacy or breach confidentiality.

For over ten years, Inter Mediate and the UK Government have successfully partnered to advance peace efforts around the globe. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) supports a range of civil society and non-governmental organisations through its mediation and conflict resolution programme. Given the sensitive and discreet nature of these efforts, we do not disclose details of the projects supported. This ensures that neither the safety of partners, nor the integrity of ongoing peace efforts are compromised. This is in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the FCDO's approach to aid transparency, whereby information is excluded from publication where sharing could pose risks to international relations, compromise the security and safety of partners, prejudice national security, or reveal personal data that could infringe on privacy or breach confidentiality.

In line with the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, the Government is required to review whether a return to spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on Official Development Assistance is possible against each new fiscal forecast, and to lay a statement in Parliament in each year when that is not possible. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to liaise closely with HM Treasury on an ongoing basis in relation to these projections.

Our partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) has been extended until March 2027. The Active Citizenship through Inclusive Volunteering and Empowerment (ACTIVE) programme currently operates in 14 countries and works with local civil society groups to strengthen their organisational capacity, leadership, autonomy and sustainability. This reflects our modernised approach to development, delivering value for money for UK taxpayers and transforming our country development partnerships to reflect the changing needs of our partners. We are looking forward to seeing how VSO's work progresses.

Global health remains one of the key priorities of our development work. The UK will continue supporting polio eradication through our flexible core funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). Our £248 million contribution will help sustain essential global health functions, including surveillance and outbreak response, which are vital in the fight against polio. We will also continue contributing to routine polio immunisation through our investment in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is Gavi's largest sovereign donor, supporting routine immunisation worldwide. We will invest £1.25 billion in Gavi between 2026 and 2030 to help immunise up to 500 million children, including against polio.

Global health remains one of the key priorities of our development work. The UK will continue supporting polio eradication through our flexible core funding to the World Health Organization (WHO). Our £248 million contribution will help sustain essential global health functions, including surveillance and outbreak response, which are vital in the fight against polio. We will also continue contributing to routine polio immunisation through our investment in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is Gavi's largest sovereign donor, supporting routine immunisation worldwide. We will invest £1.25 billion in Gavi between 2026 and 2030 to help immunise up to 500 million children, including against polio.

I refer the Hon Member to the oral statement made by the Foreign Secretary on 5 February following her recent visit to the Chad-Sudan border, and her speech to the United Nations on 19 February, available at the link below. Further updates will follow the Berlin Ministerial Conference this week.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/let-this-be-the-time-that-the-world-comes-together-to-end-the-cycle-of-bloodshed-in-sudan-uk-statement-at-the-un-security-council.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.